Hereford memories
Here are memories of Hereford and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Hereford or a Hereford photo.
Dancing at The Hostel And Town Hall - 1953
Whilst stationed at Credenhill RAF camp in 1953 and again in 1954 I met a lovely young lady at The Hostel one Saturday evening at the dance taking place there. I think the Hostel was demolished some time ago and now new housing stands where we once did our foxtrots, waltzes and quicksteps. Magical times!
I loved my RAF days in Hereford. It was a beautiful place and the surrounding countryside captivated me. One fine day I may return to see how things have changed (a great deal I fear). Superb cathedral too. And the scrumpy! Wow, two pints from the enamel jug dished up by the landlord and that would be enough for me then, and now probably.
George Harfleet.
Happy Holidays.
I went to the Green Dragon with my aunt for a holiday, I was about 10 years old and thought it very grand. In later years when I was in my 20s I took my mother there. We had a very nostalgic holiday touring around the Malvern Hills and Shakespeare country. It was a happy time.
The Coningsby Chapel & Museum
This photo shows the Coningsby Almshouses and Chapel, in Widemarsh Street, Hereford, reputed to be originally a 'cell' of Dinmore Manor, a Commandary of the Order of St John in the 16 century. It fell into disrepair and was rebuilt by Sir Thomas Coningsby of Hampton Manor near Leominster from the stone of the Blackfriars monastary whose ruins stand behind the present day building. It was further renovated in the 1970s.
The Chapel is owned by the Order of St John but the almshouses, originally 12 in number, have been renovated to 6 more sizable dwellings and is a trust. Originally occupants had to be male, and served Herefordshire, wearing a bright red coat, legend said was given to them by Nell Gwynne (of Hereford & oranges fame). It was she who had King Charles II use the same for the Chelsea Pensioners.
A building at the side of the current day property is the HQ of the St John Ambulance in Herefordshire.
Over the next 12 years the site... Read more
The New Bridge
I remember this as The 'New Bridge', it was huge and posh compared to the beautiful Old Bridge which was still in full use with 2 way traffic. I don't know if it still is as it is about 10 years since I visited Hereford but will be visiting soon!!
The Stolen Baby
I was a soldier at Bradbury Lines when this happened.
The Father of the baby was our Troop Lieutenant ...Richard Vincent.
He was a lovely man and well liked by we boy soldiers.
We never saw him again....no doubt he was given a long spell of compassionate leave.
But 30 years or so later he had risen through the ranks to be Field Marshall Sir Richard Vincent and was in charge of NATO !
I have very fond memories of my three years in Hereford.....drinking scrumpy at sevenpence a pint.....boating on the river....we guarded the Queen when she visited in (about) 1957.....she was going to the Cathedral for some reason.
Boarding School
I went to the St Vincent's Convent as a boarder for a couple of years. Some of the photos I have seen I do recall. I now live in Australia and wonder what happen to the school and the convent. The School was St Francis of Xavier.
Man on A Bike
The man riding his bike in the foreground of the photo is my father, Albert William Smith, aged about 40. The building on the left is All Saints Church.
ROMAN DIG
In about 1957-8 our history teacher at Hereford High School arranged for those that were interested to make a 'dig' in the yard besides the library ( on the left with the arches). We dug down at least 6 feet or more finding Victorian stuff and other older stuff as we went down and finally I found a Roman pot which I managed to break while getting it out of the packed earth. We had been given absolutely no instructions or training as to how this should have been handled. The teacher was a tad cranky about it but as far as I am concerened it was his fault...what does a 14 year old know about these things ? We were lucky not to get killed as there was no supports for the sides of the trench.
Seems Like Yesterday!
I had to pass through here every day on my way to and from Hereford High School. This photo is so familiar it isn't funny !!
I lived in the army camp officer's quarter's at Bradbury Lines where my stepfather was stationed. I had to make the walk no matter what the weather..sometimes getting home completely frozen or soaked !
I WITNESS THE AFTERMATH OF A TRAGEDY
Around 1957 I was walking around High Street, enjoying a meander from my route home to Bradbury Lines when I saw the wife of an officer from the Army Camp, Lt Richard Vincent, in great distress with some policemen outside the grocery shop...I believe it was a Sainsbury's on the near left hand side.
She had left her small baby in the pram outside the shop while she went inside to shop .. in those days this would not have involved the kinds of risks that it would today.. at least it shouldn't have!
Something about the scene told me that something had happened to her baby and I went home and told my step parents what my thought was. Since they considered me a ne'r do well who knew nothing at all they scoffed at me as if I was an idiot.
It didn't take long for the activity I had seen in High Town to spread out to Bradbury Lines where she and her officer... Read more
A MODERN INTRUSION
When I first returned to Hereford from Canada in 1979, after a 20 year absence, I was shocked to see the new modern designed Greyfriars Bridge crossing the river not far from the almost 2000 year old Roman Bridge.
On the left bank and back behind the photographer's position was the boat house where I used to, briefly, cox my Hereford High School house's rowing 'eight' . I didn't last that long because I almost scuttled us by nearly steering us into the railway bridge's abutments, further back up the river next to the High School sports fields where I also , much to my disgust, had to endure the ignominities of rugby !!
We used to spend a lot of time skimming rocks across the river here and it used to be the thing to do to be able to land a stone on the opposite bank !
The Wye used to flood really badly sometimes..I forget exactly which year it was but the recent (2007/8)... Read more
THE FUN FAIR
I don't know if they still do it but in the mid 1950's filled the entire Broad Street/High Street and surrounding streets were transformed into one gigantic bright, noisy, whirling, smelly and absolutely thrilling funfair!!
Merry-go-rounds and all manner of great carny rides, loaded with screaming kids and flashing hundreds of blinking lights,wind up horse racing, coconut shies and ring tosses, roll the penny, try to get the pingpong ball into the goldfish bowl, candy floss stalls...you name it..to us kids it was awesome !!
'Ere y'ar luv...Roll up..roll up...roll up...rollarollaroll a penny a pitch ! I can hear them calling now !
AN UNAPPRECIATED HISTORY
When you grow up in an ancient city such as Hereford and have really no other frame of reference you don't fully grasp the enormity of the depth of history that buildings such as Hereford Cathedral embodied. The Romans built this city !!! The Romans !! To European kids this 2000 year old history is everyday to them. I think you have to get away from it to be able to take it all in and my 40+ years in Canada and the USA gave me that perspective.
I wept in awe and wonder at my country's rich history when I took my 18 yr old son and 16 yr old daughter with me to Westminster Abbey in 2001.
Back then, when I was 14, at Hereford High School I was a member of the school's CCF Army Cadet Corps and every year our company would polish up our buckles, shine our boots and press our uniforms so that we would look our absolute smartest as we... Read more
Memories of Herefordshire
Lower Breinton
Lived there as a young child to an adult. Walking our dog Sam down by the river Breinton springs. Very peaceful place to live. Children near by Stacy, Josh.
Great Great Grandparents
I have a copy of a marriage certificate, of a marriage which took place in Allensmore Church in 1824, between JAMES PRITCHARD and MARTHA PREECE, has anyone got any further information they can give me? (These persons were my Great/Great/Grandparents).
Mr Terry Burns.
I am attempting to contact the family of the late Terry Burns, who I believe lived in Shucknall Hall up to his death in 2001. If anyone knows the whereabouts of his wife Susan Burns (Nee Wilcox) and would pass this message on to her,I would be most grateful. Thank You
Bill Hayman.
Email wjhayman@hotmail.com
phone 780 763 300
Address P.O. 23.
Mannville.
Alberta.
T0B2W0
Canada.
Email wjhayman@hotmail.com
Happy Holidays in Much Dewchurch
I spent many happy holidays in much dewchurch in the 1950's. we stayed with my great aunt, Winifried Bishop who ran not only The Black Swan pub but also Poole House as a guest house. My great grandparents Bill and Alice Jones owned Fairview. They and indeed my great aunt winifred are buried inSt David's churchyard. It is a beautiful village and although it has grown since the 50's it has retained it's character. It was a wonderful place to spend childhood holidays,so safe and peaceful.I remember that one of the highlights for the villagers were the ploughing matches.
I live in Germany now but try to visit Herefordshire whenever possible. It is in my opinion, one of the loveliest counties in the Uk and Much Dewchurch one of the prettiest villages.
Graves Family 1700s
My ancesters come from Ocle Pychard. It's very difficult to get any information on them because we are relying on Parish/Bishops' transcripts and I live in West Sussex. I am not sure if Morgan Graves who married Margaret Walwyn is related to me but he was given Ocle Court as a dower from his father in law and I would love to know some more about him or any other Graves in the 1700s and 1800s. Please get in touch if you can help.
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I Remember When...
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